We only deal with Federal Government not regional units, AfDB tells Deni

Saturday June 6, 2020

GAROWE (HOL) - Efforts by Puntland President Abdullahi Deni to seek financial assistance from the African Development Bank in response to the floods in Qardho flopped after the Bank said it had exhausted all its resources but also reminded the Puntland leader it only deals with the Federal Government.

In a letter dated June 3 seen by HOL from the Bank's regional office in Nairobi, AfDB told Deni that there were no funds left for such emergencies.

According to the letter, Deni requested the funds on May 7 barely a week after the Federal Government announced $1m to support the floods victims.

"The Bank has mobilized the limited special relief fund to support the desert locust control across the Horn of Africa and the regional Covid-19 intervention across 13 East African countries. Unfortunately, the Bank has exhausted all earmarked resources in the special relief fund." the letter read in part.

Deni just like his predecessor Abdiweli Gaas has had a rocky relationship with the Federal Government since coming into office early 2019.

The response from the AfDB signed by the acting Director-General Regional Development and Business Delivery Office, East Africa, (RDGE) Nnenna Nwabufo seemed to remind Deni of how the Bank conducts its business with governments.

"It is, however, important to highlight that the Bank usually channels all emergency or development programs through the coordination of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS)," Nwabufo said.

"We, therefore, advise that you discuss these needs with the FGS Ministers of Finance and Planning so that they consider the possibility of assisting Puntland State to manage the flood crisis from ongoing projects," Nwabufo concluded his letter

At least 3500 families were displaced by the floods that hit the town in late April.

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